Positano's main beach sits at the foot of the town, hemmed in by fishing boats and the ferry dock. It is a shingle beach — not the finest swimming surface underfoot — but the setting more than compensates: painted houses rising straight up from the waterfront, the church of Santa Maria Assunta's majolica-tiled dome visible above, and the sea a deep blue-green.
Most of the beach is operated by lidos that rent sunbeds and umbrellas. The free sections are small and fill quickly in summer. The water is clean and the swimming is good once you make it past the pebbles. Small rowing boats and pedalos can be hired to explore the base of the cliffs, and there are boat trips to nearby beaches and sea caves.